Lebanon Among Nations with Most Gender Inequality
Lebanon suffers from severe gender inequality, according to the annual Gender Gap Index issued by the Geneva-based World Economic Forum on Tuesday.
The survey showed Lebanon falling to 135th place in the list of 142 nations after being ranked 123rd out of 136 countries surveyed last year.
Lebanon came after Morocco and Jordan, which ranked respectively 133rd and 134th.
The survey ranked Lebanon 141st for female political participation, given the low number of women holding public office.
Lebanon was also at the bottom 10 in terms of labor force participation.
Nordic nations led the world in promoting equality of the sexes, as they have for many years, with Iceland, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Denmark occupying the top five spots.
Syria ranked 139th as Yemen, Pakistan and Chad remained at the bottom of the index.
"Achieving gender equality is obviously necessary for economic reasons. Only those economies who have full access to all their talent will remain competitive and will prosper," Klaus Schwab, WEF founder and executive chairman, said in a statement.
The index ranks countries based on data reported by international organizations on four categories: health and survival, access to education, economic opportunity and political participation.
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Source: Associated Press, Naharnet
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